Liverpool Philharmonic is delighted to announce Andrew Manze, widely celebrated as one of the most stimulating and inspirational conductors of his generation, as Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. His appointment, initially for three years, commences with the 2018-2019 concert season, which opens in September.

The news comes ahead of Manze’s return to the City to conduct the Orchestra on Thursday 7 June, The programme includes Vaughan Williams’ Seventh Symphony Sinfonia Antarctica, and Stephen Hough performs Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto ‘Emperor’. The concert will be broadcast live from Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on BBC Radio 3.

In his first season as Principal Guest Conductor, Manze will complete the final instalment of his critically acclaimed journey with the Orchestra in concert and on disc, of Vaughan Williams’ Symphonies, conducting the Orchestra in a concert that includes his Ninth Symphony (27 September).

‘The conductor, Andrew Manze (is) ….the greatest living interpreter of Vaughan Williams’ music and especially of his symphonies. The performances of the Fifth and Sixth symphonies last week in Liverpool were awesome.’ Simon Heffer; The Telegraph, April 2017

In November, he conducts Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the 19-year-old British cellist, whose recent performance at the Royal Wedding was followed by his debut CD jumping to the top of the US pop charts, having already topped the classical music charts. Sheku is Liverpool Philharmonic’s first Young Artist in Residence and his debut concert in that role will see him perform Elgar’s Cello Concerto (8 November).

And in the same month, Manze conducts Benjamin Britten’s landmark War Requiem at Liverpool Cathedral (10 November), part of Liverpool 2018’s Brittle Heart season of work to commemorate both the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One as well as women’s right to vote.

The composer drew on the poems of Birkenhead-born Wilfred Owen for this work, and Manze has invited orchestral musicians and choristers from Liverpool Philharmonic and Hannover’s NDR RadioPhilharmonie where he is Chief Conductor, along with an international line-up of soloists, to join together for this performance on Remembrance weekend. They will perform the work in Hannover’s Kuppelsaal in the preceding week (3 November); both Liverpool and Hannover are UNESCO Cities of Music.

In the New Year, Manze returns to Liverpool to conduct a concert that includes Mozart’s Symphony No.41, ‘Jupiter’ (10 and 11 January).

Since he first conducted the Orchestra in November 2011, Andrew Manze has enjoyed a fruitful relationship and critical acclaim with the Orchestra in concerts, broadcasts and recordings. The third volume in their recordings of Vaughan Williams’ Symphonies, of Nos. 5 and 6 (ONYX), has just been released.

‘Any lover of Vaughan Williams as a symphonist will find this recording exceptionally rewarding.’ Gramophone, April 2018

A great communicator, Manze has also established a rapport with Liverpool Philharmonic audiences and has involved himself in Liverpool Philharmonic’s extensive learning programme, including its flagship In Harmony Liverpool social change programme.

Michael Eakin, Liverpool Philharmonic’s Chief Executive said: ‘Andrew is in great demand around the world as a guest conductor, so we are thrilled that we can recognize the great partnership he has established with our Orchestra and our audiences over a number of years by appointing him officially as our Principal Guest Conductor. It is testament to our musicians, our audiences and our City that we can secure an artist of Andrew’s stature to such a role.’

Andrew Manze, speaking today from Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra where he is currently working, and like Liverpool Philharmonic, one of the world’s oldest orchestras said:
‘Our friendship began with a concert that didn’t happen (there was a power cut) and has grown with every project since. The Liverpool audience is wonderful, the Orchestra’s education work is utterly admirable, the management is courageous and fun and the Orchestra plays with such warmth and a spirit of collaboration that visits to Liverpool Philharmonic have become a very important part of my musical life. So I am honoured and delighted to become Principal Guest Conductor.’